EMP advances toward production with Saskatchewan lithium demo plant
2026-08-06 11:29:28 [Print]
Saskatchewan-based lithium brine developer EMP Metals (CSE: EMPS; US-OTC: EMPPF) has completed construction of its demonstration plant at the flagship Viewfield project, marking a significant milestone that positions the company among the province's most technologically advanced lithium players.
The Project Aurora Demonstration facility is now directly tied into both production and waste brine disposal wells, enabling full plant commissioning---a level of integration achieved by few lithium brine projects in Canada, EMP reported on Wednesday. Viewfield is located approximately 140 kilometres southeast of Regina.
"Fresh production brine is now flowing through the process as we continue integrating each system, and with commissioning approximately halfway complete, we remain on schedule for Q3 start-up," the company stated.
According to a resource update from one year ago, EMP's Viewfield and Mansur sites host 931,038 indicated tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) grading 141 mg/L lithium, along with 1.11 million inferred tonnes of LCE at 112 mg/L lithium. Mansur is situated roughly 40 kilometres northwest of Viewfield.
A 2023 preliminary economic assessment suggests that Viewfield could produce 12,175 tonnes of LCE annually at a grade of 128 mg/L over a 23-year mine life.
The Aurora demonstration facility is designed to process 10 cubic metres per day of raw brine from the wellhead, with the ultimate objective of developing a commercial plant capable of producing more than 3,000 tonnes of lithium per year. The plant's primary purpose is to validate process performance, optimize operational parameters, and generate engineering and economic data to support future commercial-scale development.
The Project Aurora Demonstration facility is now directly tied into both production and waste brine disposal wells, enabling full plant commissioning---a level of integration achieved by few lithium brine projects in Canada, EMP reported on Wednesday. Viewfield is located approximately 140 kilometres southeast of Regina.
"Fresh production brine is now flowing through the process as we continue integrating each system, and with commissioning approximately halfway complete, we remain on schedule for Q3 start-up," the company stated.
According to a resource update from one year ago, EMP's Viewfield and Mansur sites host 931,038 indicated tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) grading 141 mg/L lithium, along with 1.11 million inferred tonnes of LCE at 112 mg/L lithium. Mansur is situated roughly 40 kilometres northwest of Viewfield.
A 2023 preliminary economic assessment suggests that Viewfield could produce 12,175 tonnes of LCE annually at a grade of 128 mg/L over a 23-year mine life.
The Aurora demonstration facility is designed to process 10 cubic metres per day of raw brine from the wellhead, with the ultimate objective of developing a commercial plant capable of producing more than 3,000 tonnes of lithium per year. The plant's primary purpose is to validate process performance, optimize operational parameters, and generate engineering and economic data to support future commercial-scale development.
Lithium Metal 99.9%min Delivered China
Unit:RMB/mt
China‘s lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide producers' inventory statistics by province by month
Unit: mt
